This gives the body more time to absorb water out of the stool, leading to constipation.
Physical Limitations Decreased activity can slow down the movement of stool through the colon and causes an incomplete emptying of the bowels. One of the best ways to check for dehydration is urine color. Fluid needs vary based on age, weight, gender, activity level, and even what climate you live in. Adequate fluid intake is important in maintaining regularity whether you are drinking by mouth or through your feeding tube. While commercial formulas with added (processed or synthetic) fiber are available, they have been shown to provide little help in treating constipation for most individuals, they increase the risk of clogging the feeding tube, and they may decrease the absorption of certain medications. Many conventional tube feeding formulas do not contain fiber or the fiber content varies greatly in type and amount. Diets low in fiber reduce the amount of undigested food in the intestines, which leads to less stool output. Fiber adds bulk to stool and absorbs water from the intestines, making stools softer and easier to pass.
Formula-only diets lack vegetables, fruits, and whole grains – all things that would generally be encouraged to an oral-eater dealing with constipation.Ģ. 1 2 Although infants and children who have only been formula fed may not have a sudden change in their diet, the lack of variety and progression to real food may factor into constipation issues as well. Many of these formulas rely on highly processed ingredients, which have been shown to lead to inflammation in the body and chronic diseases. People with feeding tubes often experience a massive dietary change when going from a typical oral-eating diet to solely relying on a tube feeding formula.
In general, there are a number of causes of constipation, many of which come into play when someone with a feeding tube is fed a formula-only diet:ġ.
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